Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-09-02


the safe side and decided he would
keep his eye open. The key by
this time had suddenly ceased to
rattle, and be Interpretations lot
getting some sleep. He made mp
his nsualimpromptu bed on a bench,
and after seeing that his revolver
was all right he placed 1t under MS
head and laid down. lie watched
the coffin carefully for some tlme'
but grew drowsy, and finally, wltn'
out knowing, dropped OIL INTO
sleep. How long he slept be ana
not know, but he was awakened
suddenly by what he couldn't tell
but he heard the telegraph instru'
ment in the next room rafting
away furiously and extraordinarily
loud:
"Watch the boxw "Watch tho
box ~ "Watch the box ~
He was fully awake in an instant
and, turning his gaze to where tne
coffin lay, he saw by the dim light
of the station lamp the lid rise
slightly. He watched breathlessly,
and cold sweat broke ont all over
him as he saw the lid slowly ana
noiselessly rise and man SIT up ID
the coffin. His heart beat quickly
as the man got up and slipped out
of the box and looked about him.
He was evidently a burglar, as he
wore a Grape mask and carried a
bulrs.eye IN one hand and some
tools in the other. He was pow
erfully.built fellow, but so was Ben
jamin, who, seeing his visitor was
flesh and blood, regained his cour'
I
age. His policy was best 10
lie still and watch Developments
and, although the robber came mp
close to him and showed his lantern
| into his face, he never moved a
muscle.
Taking it for granted he was
asleep, the burglar stole over 10
the safe and knelt down before 1t
with his back to the agent, Now
was Beniamin's time for Selling his
revolver. He stepped from the
bench aud with a bound was on the
burglars back. Then there ensued
a terrible struggle, but Benjamin
had him about the neck and was
slowly strangling him, when the
man drew a knife and lunged at
his antagonist. To save himself
BENJAMIN pressed his revolver
against the robbers shoulder and
fred. With howl the thief rolled
over on his back, the blood pouring
from his wound. Believing him to
be dying Benjamin left him and
ran down the road with all speed
to the village, reaching the resi-
dence of DR.. Holt all out OF breath
He awoke the physician, to whom
he hurrledly told the tale, ard with
less than ten minutes delay the
two men were running toward the
station. Half way there they we're
passed by a top wagon being dny'
en- turiously toward the village
They called to the driver, but he
paid no attention to them.
When they entered the station,
to their surprise, they found the
supposed dead man gone. There
was the empty coffin and the bur
glars tools, Just as the robber drop
ped them, beside a pool OF blood
on the floor, but that was all
Drops of blood led along the floor
to the door, showing how the thief
had gone, and fresh wagon-wheels
| in the earth at the door showed the
means of escape. He had evident
ly had an accompllce. The coffin,
upon examination, was found to
, have been bolted on the inside, the
supposed screws being bogus. 1t
was furnished comfortably, and the
air-holes in the side made his life
, inside almost a luxury. Next day
the matter was reporter to the rail
way officials, who rewarded Benja
min handsomely, and began an in
vestigation. The stranger who got
, the order to stop the express at the
. station, and who shipped the coflir
from Montpelier, could not be found
, and eluded capture. The company
then examined every operator along
the line as to who sent the warning
message, but one and all declared
that they did not, and the whole
affair is shrouded in the Creates
mystery.
The matter is the sole topic o
conversation in this DeighbOrhood
and raft of people have come from
all sections to visit the station and
see the coffin, tools, and blood
stains, which decline to be remov
: ed, and which the station agen
} politely points out. The tota
I amount of money saved was $40,
D 600.
= For Bone FeIOn.
~